Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1843 edition. Excerpt: ... tracts, and hospitable gloom, stood there ready to receive and shelter him. Exultingly, therefore, as though already beyond pursuit, he turned round, and with a grim smile, shook his clenched fist at the officers and the peasants above, most of whom stood clustering in gaping wonder on the edge of the dizzy precipice. But he had egregiously miscalculated the force of the motives by which one, at least, among that group was urged to follow him. Next moment, Penryn Bynon, with another of the constables had accomplished the same desperate leap, and stood erect in the meadow almost beside him. The murderer now understood that he had no time to lose, and putting forth all his strength and swiftness, made right across the fields towards the cover. Near the centre of the flat, and directly in the way by which he should have ran, stood a small briery copse, that had grown up about the mouth of an extremely deep pit, vainly sunk many years previously by the proprietor, in search of coal. From this, as though scared by some overmastering dread, Morris edged away, though he thereby augmented the distance he had to traverse. His two pursuers separating, ran along one on either hand, each endeavouring to be the first to head him. Comprehending their design, and perceiving that they gained ground, the murderer doubled and made as though he would have advanced towards the Taf. This manoeuvre, however, served him but little. In a few minutes, the constables were again seen shooting ahead and nearing each other for the purpose of closing with him. Sometimes confiding in his bulk and extraordinary strength, he seemed himself to court this, but at the approach of Bynon his courage failed him. The effects of these movements and countermovements was to keep...